Page 97 of Owned By Two

Through it, Qeyel backed away, horrified but hopeful he had escaped.

I drew up to the door and…

Shunk!

My horns became wedged in the narrow doorway.

Having come to an immediate halt, my body and momentum continued to race forward, and my stomach lurched.

The automatic door whirred as it attempted to shut on my horns.

I wasn’t sure what was stronger — my horns or the door — but they seemed to be holding up well…

But I wasn’t sure they would last forever.

The machinery made loud ugly grinding noises that I was certain couldn’t be healthy.

My horns made loud screeching sounds too and I wasn’t sure they were going to last until smoke began to issue from the door’s inner workings.

I found my confidence and shoved at the door with my arm.

But beating at it with my fist didn’t seem to have much of an effect.

Qeyel, eyes wide as saucers, bolted for his desk where he smashed the case of an antique letter opener and seized it by the handle and brandished it in my direction.

The door was really grinding now and it wouldn’t be long before it gave up the ghost…

But how long?

I put the sole of my boot to it, braced the weight, and shoved it back.

It made loud shrieking noises.

Qeyel drew closer, his eyes glaring with unrestrained madness as he built up speed and made a beeline for my heart.

He roared as he drew closer.

There was no doubt in my mind I would be dead the moment it pierced my skin.

My scales might offer up some protection but the blade would slide off the smooth curve and the tip would pierce the soft, flexible edges of the joins between the scales.

It would slice through me like a hot blade through butter.

I struggled harder against the door but there was no use.

It wasn’t going to give way.

I was pinned there, vulnerable as a newborn as Qeyel barreled forward, covering the final few yards.

I raised my arms to protect myself, knowing it would do little to stop him.

I shut my eyes and—

Thump!

I flinched, waiting to feel the cold bite of metal as it entered my body…

But I didn’t feel anything.

---